Today, America is reeling from news that the nation has lost about as many people to COVID-19 in one year as died in combat during the entirety of the first and second World Wars. This is staggering and heartbreaking, and no song can speak to the enormity of the moment. So, all I can do is choose one of the more beautiful rock songs ever written about loss, Better Than Ezra’s “A Lifetime.” The song is appropriate because it addresses the pain of loss while stressing the importance of honoring the wishes and memories of a deceased loved one. Here’s to the memory of those who have died and hope for better outcomes in coming months.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, on Sunday, said that Americans need to remain vigilant even though COVID-19 cases are, at last, declining across the United States. That makes “Don’t Let Your Guard Down” by Nils Lofgren the ideal Song of the Day. The song comes from Lofgren’s 2019 album “Blue With Lou.”
The biggest news story in my feed today seems to be that Texas is continuing to struggle from the impact of a massive winter storm. Power outages combined with freezing weather have created widespread disruptions to water supplies. It’s easy to take our electrical grid for granted and forget about all the bad things that can happen when our energy supply is disrupted. So, the Song of the Day is “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” by Information Society. The lyrics are about romance and communication, but it’s impossible to listen without focusing on the sample of the great Leonard Nimoy repeating the words “Pure Energy.”
Big news in my feed today is that NASA’s Perseverance rover is on Mars and ready to search for ancient life. That said, Machine Gun Kelly’s “Concert for Aliens” seems an apt Song of the Day.
The biggest news story in my inbox is that longtime talk radio host Rush Limbaugh has died at the age of 70. Figures like Limbaugh, who built their careers on partisan rhetoric, have complex legacies. No matter how one feels about his ideas, there is no debating the fact that Limbaugh was a powerful force in modern media … particularly radio. Although R.E.M. is singing about music in its great, 1991 hit “Radio Song,” the tune feels like an appropriate choice.R.
It’s Valentine’s Day, and my youngest son, Will, notified me that it is also Weezer Day … noted because this is the 29th anniversary of the band’s formation. Weezer isn’t noted for love songs, but the ultra-catchy “(If You’re Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To” is about courtship. Plus, I love it … and I get to choose. Happy Valentine’s Day music lovers!
My first Song of the Day for Feb. 13 was published before the Senate determined the outcome of Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. As expected, he was acquitted, with only a handful of Republicans breaking ranks. So … it seems appropriate to add George Harrison’s “Not Guilty” as a bonus. Originally written for the Beatles White Album, the tune didn’t make the cut and was released years later.
Today, the Senate voted to continue with a second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump. At the request of my friend Dan Lewis, the Song of the Day is: “Let’s Impeach the President” by Neil Young.
The big news in my world today is that the Critics Choice Awards nominees were announced. Full disclosure: I am a voter in the film branch. It’s a particularly big day for Netflix because that studio received 72 nominations across the film and TV categories. The next-closest studio was HBO/HBO Max, with 24 nominations. So, how can I choose anything but AJR’s “Netflix Trip” as my Song of the Day?
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